Device for separating leaves, stems, and other material from hops



G. R..ANDERSON ET AL DEVICE FOR SEPARATING LEAVES, STEMS,

AND OTHER MATERIAL FROM HOPS Sept. 13, 1949.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2, 1948 Illllllllll m m N m N I p G. R.ANDERSON ET AL 2,481,397

DEVICE FOR SEPARATING LEAVES, STEMS,

AND OTHER MATERIAL FROM HOPS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 2, 1948 Sept.E3, 1949.

G. R. ANDERSON ET AL DEVICE FOR 2,481,897 SEPARATING LEAVES, STEMS, ANDOTHER MATERIAL FROM HOPS Filed March 2, 1948 '3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fay. 6

Patented Sept. 13, 1949 DEVICE FOR SEPARATING LEAVES, STEMS, AND OTHERMATERIAL FROM HOPS George R. Anderson and Zack Anderson, Santa Rosa,Calif.; said Zack Anderson assignor to said George R. AndersonApplication March 2, 1948, Serial No. 12,566

Claims. (01. 209-12) This invention pertains to separators andparticularly to a machine for separating leaves, stems, and othermaterial from hops.

Hops are raised on a trellis fourteen to sixteen feet high. In the past,when mature, the vines were cut loose from the trellis and the hops werepicked from the vines'by hand. Due to the shortness of the season andthe great amount of hand labor required, an improved method of pickingwas needed. Such a need resulted in the introduction of the art ofpicking hops by machine. Today the art of machine picking is widelypracticed although some hand picking is still done. 7

When picked by machine the vines are usually cut off several feet abovethe ground and cut loose from the trellis. They are then hauled to thepicking machine in instances where the machine is stationary. The usualpicking machine consists of two horizontal rows of revolving drums withone row disposed above the other. The drums in each row are placedparallel to one another and approximately one quarter of a drum diameterapart. The drums carry a plurality of picking fingers, which areVshaped. In operation the vines are secured at one end to a grasper barwhich pulls the vines over the top row .of the revolving drums and thenbetween the top and lower rows of the drums. The picking fingers combthe vines and engage and pull off hops from the vines.

In the combing action, which picks the hops from the vines, a great manyleaves and stems are picked and broken from the vines. These leaves andstems must be removed from the hops to make a suitable market grade. Anurgent need exists for a separator of new and novel design which will becapable of efficiently delivering a clean grade of hops withoutsacrificing any of the hops.

The present invention relates to a machine for separating the hops fromthe leaves, stems, and other material more eniciently than hasheretofore been accomplished. Due to novel features of the machine theseparating action is positive and precise. These novel features alsoenable the machine to accomplish precise results under varying hop-cropconditions.

Condition of the hop crop changes as the season progresses. Cropconditions also vary from year to year. A machine that can perform thecleaning operation precisely under the variable conditions mentionedabove is greatly needed by the hop growing industry.

Novel means 7 are provided for the positive 2. l carrying of the leaves,stems, and other material into the discharge. Further novelty isprovided in the variable control of the suction effect and its abilityto handle varying crop conditions. Other advantages will appear in thefollowing specification and the novel features of the invention will beparticularly pointed out in the appended claims. V

Provided is a 'pervious belt supported and driven by pulleys. Thebelt,isdisposed at a suitable angle. Disposed under the belt is an airhousing in which is mounted an axial flow fan. It should be pointed outthat, other suitable means for producing -a suction-effect could beused. The fan maintains a suction upon the belt causing leaves, stems,and other material to adhere to the belt. .The hops, being heavier andfairly round in shape, roll down and off the belt. The inlet area of thefan is divided into two parts by a partition extending from the upperpulley to the fan thus forming two separate ducts in the air housing.One duct substantially covers the area of the belt. Disposed in thisduct between the fan and the belt are a number of baliles. Thesebaillesare adjustable and regulate the amount of suction produced uponthe belt. The other duct extends from the fan up to and around the upperpul1ey,.thereby forming an opening above the belt. The leaves adheringto the belt arecarried up to this opening and are sucked in by thesuction current maintained in this duct. Means are provided to adjustthe angle of the belt so as to insure rolling and gravity separation ofthe hops from the leaves, stems, and other material.

The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawingsforming a part of the application in which- Fig., 1 is a central,vertical section of the separating machine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the pervious separator belt.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of portions of the housing, baffles andbaffle control levers.

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line IVIV.

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on line VV.

Fig. 6 is a central vertical view of the separating machine similar toFig. 1 but showing alternate arrangement of baffles.

While only the preferred form of the invention is shown, it should beunderstood that Various changes or modifications may be made within thescope of the appended claims, without cleparting from the spiritof theinvention.

The invention will be carried out by first identitying the various partsand describing their arrangement, then by showing their functions inconjunction with one another to achieve a comprehensive presentation ofthe separating operation.

Referring ,to thje drawingsjn detail yvith emphasis-on Figure 1: A gearmotor (other suitable driving means may be used) is mounted on theseparator frame l9 and drives the chai'rLLZM which in turn drives thesprocket], t The sproclget l is carried on shaft 5 which, withthefsill'aftlzfi, are journaled in the frame l9. "Shafts 5"affd16 carrya number of spiders-' 6,'I25forrning pulleys which support the belt 4.Sliaf-t 5drives the belt 4 through its pulley, and shaft 26 and itspulley are revolved by the belt 4. partof the ira rne I9 is designatedas an air housing 9 Blaiced across the housing 9 is the partition 8 toformtwo air ducts. The ducts'fare designated as E and F. Ihe .frame J9.. .withlhousing 9- are carried piyotly won s-haftil which isin'ouhtedinsupporting frame 2 Mounte'diin the housing 9. or intheira'mel l9 :are'the battles I3 or'laa connectedby levers I II or I lwarid .12" or? i zaatmthe'f'general control levier IT or 41a. Alsomduiltedon the rear of thehousing9 are thefan lirfaninotor l and fan'housing 16. A locking device I8 ..or lflafisproyided for general controlleverzl'l or Ila. A devicZB to a'djust the inclinationbf the frarne I 9,housin 9 --and-the belt 4 in frame Zl iS'prbiiided. A hopper 3 directsh'ops,'laves,*stems, .and-other material to the machine. A hopper 122directs cleaned -hbps-to=the conveyor 23; 24'is'the opening for the airduct iormed by the partition 8..21' or. 21a is' a' pivot pinin thelevers .l l' or I la and l 2' or |Za.- zsisia'set screw i'n'lever 12" or1211 connected to battle l3' o l3 afand provides for adjusting theosition" of baiile 13 or Ba" relative to "lever I 2 or "Twogerfe'raPmethodsof operation may be e'rnpie e with "tamer/entic Itshould be borne lamina -that ai'fufnber pf intermediate phases of Qoperation exist between' the twogeheral methods. 1 "I'hefirst"'gerieYalhi'thod h'all bede'sigaated as belt.-

- 'Infthe' firstmethcd the bit a'isnrivri ii-the.

" by-airbase 'ai'id'D. isjaccomplishedby'th geariinotor I'drivi'rig'the' shaft the belt 4 designated as A, the 7 other c urrentwhich be noted that the opening 24"is'srnall""inarea l4 This causes arelativelyst'rong 'su'tion' at opening The -ainioiintofsucti'on'upon thebelt 4 is regulated by-the baiiles 13 or "Ha land thei r control levers;l l'oi' -l laJ,"l2 or [2a, l1 or lion The hop cones,"leaves;-'sterns;and-other material 'are introduced through the hoppers. They then fallon to the' belt 4 near" itsu'pper portion. The suction on belttisre'gfilated "so that it causes leaves, stems, and'other r'iiaterialtd adherto the,

belt 4. The hop-cones. being lieavier'and fairly r'oundl inshape,rolLdownrandofithe be1t..4 to hopperL22. l-Iop. cbn'es arexnot'hldtosthe belt 4 becausethesutiofi is limited;by the bafiles l3 or l3at'osuch'anreiitent thati't isnot-strong enough.

to cause hop cones to adhere to the belt 4. Fur

thermore the inclination of belt 4 is adjusted to an angle which shallinsure the proper rolling action of the hop cones. The belt 4 has avibrating action caused by the use of spider pulleys 6 and 25 instead ofconventional type pulley. This vibrating act ion assists hop cones whichotherwise ma hate tended to "aqnrje to are-tag 4 to roll. The leaves,stems, and other material which adhere to the belt 4 are carried by thebelt up to the opening 24 Here the stronger suction current B sei zes'ththey are carried into the duct E andthehcefthrough the fan to discharge.The .cleanedhop' conesfall into hopper 22 and are dirested to theconveyor.

In thesee'orid method of operation the belt 4 is adjusted t arelativelysteeper inclination than in the first method. The hopper 3 is moved outfrom 'thebelt 4 a little beyond the vertical projection of a planepassed through the lower extremity of 2c wbe t fl-he ha lealfi Q 1 .3a.aeadl fle ind .ually elativets rer llpr li and 192! l the Setrew'lfifbebe l areja ie i dsath .t 1.1 .ba1fie.near shrz r it on 8-15.pn athee e -iamQunt. The;b l ea e in e se t edwe lin 2a radu rd mlni l n11a a est. W l ing be -i thest fmmra t thg an hast n th .the. su tiononhtt lll be. s r n er. the u p p r ion d mini h ainst eneth ih 19 ..tre ir.-. Gen rah qatro cube uctio ras .whqle can" st llibe h ax nedt t shiilver 11'. or lalbll aaim ce. m ed sten fih r thefi method. .Hoptone ,le vas em a d.Pt e m terial are introduced through the hopper 3-'and ifallinfront of thebelt 5L The suction through .belt 4 being, str onger at,theftop, exerts,a,rela- .tively strong force on the'leaves, stems, andother "material causi g themto urve towards,the belt v4.Astheycontimie,Ialling the suction; although .dimin'ishing.,in.strength, causes .them to curve 40..t'0wards the belt 4guntilthey'adhere thereto. The hop cones being heavier, are'not acted upon bythe suction as much as the leaves. MFOr'thiS reason the hop conesfallfreeoithe belt 4'and a are directedon'tdthe conveyorbythe hopper 22.In case it is desiredto allow theihop cones toifall .upon' thebelt:4"s0me'where on'its'lower extremity this r'naybel-done. Toaccomplishjisatisfactory separation under this. condition the bafflesarei'adjus'ted so that thecsuctionorl the'lower-extremity of the belt isinsuflicientto :causehoppones to adhere to thebelt. g 'It'can beseenthat theroperation' could be one of'a numberfofcompromises'between'the two general methods of:oper'ation described.,,Having thus described our invention; whatwe claim anddesire tosecure-10y Letters Patent is:

'1. Ainachine forrseparat'rng fhops from leaves, .stems,, and othermaterial, consisting-of ,anendless pervious belt mounted on--pulleyspositioned 'to maintain the Tbeltxat anangle between'hori-..zo'ntal and verticaLCthe;uppermost.of the relativelyiflatsectionsofthe belt extending between the pulleys travelingj in anupwarddirection, the belt being driven by atle'ast one'fof the pulleys, 5-meansifor directing hops,,leaves, stems andother material t o,;theupwardly traveling belt section, an airhousing ,meaus-f i 0sed nder thebelt .andiextending from pulley to pulley and partially enclosingtheupper--pulley, f an air intake means vI e ee t e. upwer lyi ar l besection a the. airhousing near'theuppenpulley, andfsaid I housing alsoextending to:,cl0se the.sides ofthe traveling belt secti0n$,; cflusingthe air entering the .air.hbus n fl 93. n pa tthrou h the air intakenear the upper pulley and causing all the said air housing to entertation of the fan to produce air suction at the air intake near theupper pulley and also upon the traveling beltsections, baflles disposedbetween the upwardly and downwardly traveling belt sections.

2. A machine for separating hops from leaves,

stems, and other material, consisting of an endless pervious beltmounted on pulleys positioned to maintain the belt at an angle betweenhorizontal and vertical, the uppermost of the relatively flat sectionsof the belt extending between the pulleys traveling in an upwarddirection, the 'belt being driven by at least one of the pulleys, meansfor directing hops, leaves, stems and other material to the upwardlytraveling belt section, an air housing means disposed under the belt andextending from pulley to pulley and partially enclosing the upperpulley, an intake means between the upwardly traveling belt section andthe air housing near the upper pulley, said air housing also extendingto close the sides of the traveling belt sections causing the airentering the air housing to enter in part through the air intake nearthe upper pulley and causing all the rest of said air entering said airhousing to enter by passing through the traveling belt sections, anaxial flow fan and air outlet means disposed in the air housing, apartition placed within and across the air housing so as to extend fromthe upper pulley to the fan, two air ducts thus being formed within theair housing, each duct having an opening over part of the inlet area ofthe fan, means provided to cause rotation of the fan to produce airsuction in the two air ducts and thereby at the air intake near theupper pulley and also upon the traveling belt sections, bailles disposedbetween the upwardly and downwardly traveling belt sections.

3. A machine for separating hops from leaves, stems and other material,consisting of an endless pervious belt mounted on pulleys positioned tomaintain the belt at an angle between horizontal and vertical, theuppermost of the relatively flat sections of the belt extending betweenthe pulleys traveling in an upward direction, the belt being driven byat least one of the pulleys, means for directing hops, leaves, stems,and other material to the upwardly traveling belt section, an airhousing means disposed under the belt and extending from pulley topulley, and partially enclosing the upper pulley, an air intake meansbetween the upwardly traveling belt section and the air housing near theupper pulley, said air housing also extending to close the sides of thetraveling belt sections causing the air entering the air housing toenter in part through the air intake near the upper pulley and causingall the rest of said air entering said air housing to enter by passinthrough the traveling belt sections, an axial flow fan and air outletmeans disposed in the air housing, a partition placed within and acrossthe air housing so as to extend from the upper pulley to the fan, twoair ducts thus being formed within the air housing, each duct having anopening over part of the inlet area of the fan, means provided to causerotation of the fan to produce air suction in the two air ducts andthereby at the air intake near the upper pulley and also upon thetraveling belt sections, bafiies disposed in the air duct extending fromthe traveling belt sections to the fan, said baflles being disposed insaid duct between the fan and the traveling belt sections.

4. A machine for separating hops from leaves, stems, and other material,consisting of an endless pervious belt mounted on pulleys positioned tomaintain the belt at an angle between horizontal and VerticaL'theuppermost of the relatively fiat sections of the belt extending betweenthe'pulleys traveling in'an upward direction, the

belt being driven by at least one of "the pulleys, means for directinghops, leaves, stems, and other material to the upwardly traveling beltsection, an :air housing means disposed under the belt and extendingfrom pulley to pulley and partially enclosing the upper pulley, an airintake means between the upwardly traveling'belt section and the airhousing near the upper pulley, said air housing also extending to closethe sides of the traveling belt-sections causing the air entering theair housing to enter in part through the air intake near the upperpulley, and causing all the rest of said air entering said air housingto enter by passing through the traveling belt sections, an axial flowfan and air outlet means disposed in the air housing, a partition placedwithin and across the air housing so as to extend from the upper pulleyto the fan, two air ducts thus being formed within the air housing, eachduct having an opening over part of the inlet area of the fan, meansprovided to cause rotation of the fan to produce air suction in the twoair ducts and thereby at the air intake near the upper pulley and alsoupon the traveling belt sections, individually and collectivelyadjustable baiiies disposed between the upwardly and downwardlytraveling belt sections, the portions of the air housing closing thesides of the traveling belt sections constructed so as to form a frame,a shaft mounted in a suitable support, said frame being mounted pivotlyon said shaft, suitable means for changing the inclination of saidpivoted frame thereby changing the inclination of the belt, in thevarious changes of the belt said air housing, air ducts, fan, andbaiiles are maintained in their respective positions relative to thebelt, the pulleys supporting the belt consisting of a number of spacedarms extending radially from the pulley core, said arms also extendingparallel to the pulley core the width of said pulleys.

5. A machine for separating hops from leaves, stems, and other material,consisting of an endless pervious belt mounted on pulleys positioned tomaintain the belt at an angle between horizontal and vertical, theuppermost of the relatively flat sections of the belt extending betweenthe pulleys traveling in an upward direction, the belt being driven byat least one of the pulleys, means for directing hops, leaves, stems andother material to the upwardly traveling belt section, an air housingmeans disposed under the belt and extending from pulley to pulley andpartially enclosing the upper pulley, an air intake means between theupwardly traveling belt section and the air housing near the upperpulley, said air housing also extending to close the sides of thetraveling belt sections causing the air entering the air housing toenter in part through the air intake near the upper pulley and causingall the rest of said air entering said air housing to enter by passingthrough the traveling belt sections, an axial flow fan and air outletmeans disposed in the air housing, a partition placed within and acrossthe air housing so as to extend from the upper pulley to the fan, twoair ducts thus being formed within the air housing, each duct having

